MAYOR FENTON REPORT JUNE 16, 2005

TUESDAY, JUNE 14^TH WAS FLAG DAY

We Would Like To Personally Thank Dv3 And Its Members For Putting On The Flag Memorial. It Is Because Of Them And Their Love For This Country That Members Volunteer Hundreds Of Hours To Show Respect And Honor For Our American Flag And The Lives It Represents Protecting It.

To Dv3, On Behalf Of Bristol Township Council, Myself And Residents, Thank You For All You Have Done And Continue To Do In Making Bristol Township And Our Sourrounding Communities A Better Place To Live. It Is Because Of Your Hard Work We Continue To Know How Important Our American Flag Is.

Please Take Time To Display The Americam Flag And To Remember The Men And Women Who Died So We Can Enjoy The Freedom We Have Today.

* NOW, LET US CONTINUE TO PLEDGE OUR ALLEGIANCE TO THE AMERICAN FLAG……..

RECREATION

I Am Requesting Council’s Approval To Pursue The Donation Of The Croydon Little League Field From Rohm Haas To Bristol Township Recreation For The Use Of The Croydon Little League And To Work Out The Maintance Of The Field With The League. I Will Be Meeting With Senator Tomlinson, Rohm Haas And The Croydon Little League Shortly To Discuss The Township’s Intentions.

PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES

I Request That Council Pass A Resolution Opposing The Proposed Possible Shipment By The Army Of Nerve Gas Through Our Township. The Army Plans To Transport Millions Of Gallons Of The Neutralized Toxic Nerve Agent

V X. The Possibility Of Shipping The Nerve Gas By Rail To Morrisville, Then Loading It Onto Trucks And Driven On Route 13 To The Turnpike Into New Jersey Is Not Acceptable.

I Request That The Resolution Be Forwarded To All Federal, State, And County Elected Officials.

“STOP A COP – GUN SAFETY PROGRAM” June Is Gun Safety Month And The Township And The Police Department Are Participating In Gun Safety Month By Offering Free Gun Safety Locks To Anyone Who May Need Them. These Locks Are Available At The Police Department, Township Receptionist Desk Or Stop A Cop And Ask For A Gun Safety Lock.

Bristol Township Community Development Is Offering A Free “Predatory Lending Practices” Workshop On Wednesday, June 29^th At 10:00am To Noon Here At The Municipal Building. These Predators Are Increasing In Our Township As Well As Bucks County. If You Are Considering A Loan For Home Repair, Unhappy With Work Already Done, Having Trouble With The Loan You Have Already Received, Or Are Intimidated By Contractors, Please Plan To Attend This Free Workshop. To Register Contact Our Community Development Office At 267-812-2915 Or The Bucks County Housing Group At 215-598-3566.

DEVELOPMENT

Merrill Lynch Is Investing $140 Million In Bristol Township To Renovate 200,000 Sq Ft Of Office Space In The Bristol Industrial Park And Improve Surrounding Infrastructure.

This Will Create New Jobs And Revenue To The Township.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

As A Result Of Our Community Efforts, Yesterday The House Appropriations Bill Was Passed With Possitive Results Concerning Community Development Block Grants. It Prevented The Transfer Of Funds To The Department Of Commerce. Also, The H O M E Program For First Time Home Buyers Has Been Funded. The Township’s C D Department Will Again Apply For 2006 H O M E Funding.

This Bill Now Has To Be Finilized With The Passage Of The 2006 Federal Budget.

However To My Disapointment, Brownfields Redevelopment And Section 108 Loans Share Have Been Elimenated In This Same Bill.

FRATERNAL BENEFIT SOCIETIES:

On January 27 The Staff Of The Joint Committee On Taxation Released A Report Entitled “Option To Improve Tax Compliance And Reform Tax Expenditures.” One Recommendation The Joint Committee’s Staff Proposed Is To Revoke The Tax-Exampt Status Of Fraternal Benefit Societies.

Beginning With The Tariff Act Of 1894, Every Tax Law Has Contained A Specific Exemption For Fraternal Benefit Societies. Most Were Formed Over 100 Years Ago To Assist Immigrants In America. Members Came Together Based On Ethnic, Religious And Vocational Bonds. They Came Together To Allow Individuals With Similar Backgrounds To Solve Common Problems And To Provide Financial Support With The Collection Of Burial Funds When Members Died.

Today These Fraternal Benefit Societies Are A Major Force, Providing $365 Million In Direct Fraternal And Charitable Expenditures In Year 2004, While Devoting More Than 83 Million Hours Volunteering In Community And Social Services. They Provided About $17 Million In Financial Relief To Families Affected By 9/11. So Far They Have Raised $8 Million In Tsunami Relief, Not To Mention The Extensive Youth And Young Adult Programs Providing Leadership Training, Social Opportunities, And Scholarships.

In Short, They Must Stop Providing Insurance To Their Members Or Be Taxed. I Believe That They Are No Threat To Any Commercial Insurance Business. This Recommendation Is Just Another Attack On Our Local Community Organizations To Line The Pockets Of Big Business.

Our Own U. S. Senator Rick Santorum Is The “Champion” So Far On This Issue. Stating “It Is Interesting To Note That The Platform Of The Republican National Committee In 2004, 2000, And In 1996 Contained The Following Statement; “Because Of The Vital Role Of Religious And Fraternal Benevolent Societies In Fostering Charity And Patriotism, They Should Not Be Subject To Taxation.” …. Let Us Make Sure That This Joint Committee Recommendation Is Taken Off The Table.”

I Received A Letter (Attached) From Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight, Knights Of Columbus, Asking For Our Support And To Let Senator Santorum Know That We Are Solidly Behind His Efforts To Ensure That They Will Be Able To Continue To Pursue Their Goals Of Charity, Unity, Fraternity And Patriotism.

Tonight I Am Requesting Council’s Support Of All Fraternal Benefit Societies And The Tax-Exempt Treatment For All Fraternals. I Am Requesting A Letter Be Sent To All Of Our Federal, State, And County Elected Officials Asking Them To Also Support These Truly Community Service Not- For -Profit Organizations.